Swimming device.



J. WELLS,

SWIMMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1910.

@93 2? Q Patented May 30, 1911.

5] Wu M4 501 JOHN WELLS, 0F FARMERSVILLE, TEXAS.

SWIIIIEIKNG: DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Fat-en's. Y

Patented May so, near.

Application filed July 5, 1910. Serial No. 570,352.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TVELLS, a citinarily.

The principal object of the inventionis the provision of a device of this character which may be applled to either the feet or hands or both and by the use of which a greater surface is presented to the water as the operator makes successive thrusts there- I by enabling one to make rapid speed hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing z-Figure 1 is a view of the device positioned on the feet of a swimmer. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the device with the wings in closed position. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with the wings open. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a. modified form of wing plate.

Similar reference numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

Referriiu more iarticularl to the drawpreparatory to a successive stroke the Wings will close so as to present'a'minimum resistance area.

The foot engaging plate A consists of a sole 1 substantially the shape of the bottom of the foot and is provided at one end with a heel guard 2 having an ankle engaging strap'3. The opposite end of the foot sole is provided with a toe engaging strap 4.

Pivotally arranged on the bottom or un derside of the foot-sole 1 is a pair of hinged wings 5,.which are preferably constructed of sheet metal. Each of the wings 5 have their outer edges inclined outwardly as at '6 to increase the etticiency of the propelling stroke. The longitudinal edges of the wings 5 are each provided with a series of spaced pintle eyes 7 each having a downwardly and outwardly extending stop lug 8..as clearly shown in Fig. 4., to limit the closing movement of the wings. The eyes 7 of one of the wing sections are arranged between and in alinement with those of the opposite one so that the pintle 9 can be readily and quickly inserted through the eyes. The wings 5 are pivotally mounted upon the pintle 9 between the pintle bearings 10 through which the pintle passes and is secured by a nut 11. The width of the wings when closed will be slightly'less than the width of the foot sole 1 so that a minimum resistance area will be presented.

It maybe deemed desirable to attach the device to the hands of an operator, in which case the wing plate 1 is provided at its ends with a pair of strap engaging eyes 12, by which the device can be securely fastened in operative position.

From the foregoing descriptibn taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the artto which the invention relates, and while I have de scribed the principle of operation of the in-' vention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new is 1. In a device of the class described, a

foot engaging plate, wing sectidns pivotally the inner longitudinal edges of the Wing sections, each pintle eye consisting of a tongue bent to form an eye at the inner edge of the Wing sections, each of said tongues terminating in an singularly projecting stop with respect to its wing section tmcl adapted to limit the inward movement of the respective Wing sections.

2. In a swimming appliance, s lirnh engaging element hinged wing sections having their outer marginal edges ino iined outwardly and adapted to grip and retain the.

meter to increase the propelling efficiency of the stroke s )aced aintle e' es on the inner seeps? longitudinal edges of each section, said pintle eyes being alternately arranged, stop lugs formed on each of the pintle eyes to limit the closing inoven'ient of the Wing section a pintle passing through the said eyes and detachehly connected to the limb engaging element.

In testimony whereof I ziflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JO N WELLS.

Yvitnesses P. P. MINN, XV. E. YEARY. 

